Cheam Ladies 4th XI

Report: Never was a team so up for winning as on this day. A 115% effort from the off with Laura tipping in three goals in succession, being in the right place at the right time whenever the ball got near the post. How modest was she, no celebration, just got on with the game. Fantastic stuff Laura. Yours truly was allowed up front and the oppo obliged by leaving me unmarked at the top of the D - goal 4 in the net.

By half time we we grinning and started the second half with the same determination with Michelle netting one of her classic finishes. At 5-0 up we got caught out in midfield and conceded one goal which was, all said and done, well deserved. Not ever to be left out of the picture, Andrea put one of her 'balls on fire' shots into the back of the goal. The goalie simply could not have seen it coming. 6-1 on the final whistle and a couple of hours later we heard that one of the other contenders (or should I say pretenders) to the title had lost!

We are the champions!!!

Report: Despite us being as tad short of players and the oppo having three subs, the mighty fours once again gave 110% leading to a sound victory and definite promotion to the next division - CELEBRATION time!!!!

The game got off to a good start with lots of attacks on the goal. Emily put in a fantastic cross which Candy clipped and Andrea finished off into the the top of the net (she does like her balls bouncy after all).

The second half started in strong form again despite a minor slip up in defence. More scrambles in the opposition D with Candy demonstrating her 'nip it in on the post when no one is looking' goal scoring technique. Euphoria is the word to describe the atmosphere on pitch and shortly after this Emily made a phenominal run from near the half way line, ducked and dived around a few defenders and almost casually popped the ball into the back of the net.
A fantastic game with a very good mannered oppo.

Come on girls - we have to win next week for the league. JDFI!

Report: You could tell the majority of us had enjoyed a few beverages the night before at the Jonesys' do! Resulting in a sluggish start and letting in 2 early goals. To be fair to PHC they were a very useful side and played some good hockey with strong hits and few whippets up front.

However after 20 mins we regained our ability to play hockey, started to compete and put together some good attacking moves. With a few mins of the first half left we scored from a short corner, Pankster received the ball at the top of the D drew the defenders and slotted left for Andrea to smash home.

A few enouraging word from the Skipper at half-time and we were raring to go! PHC had a number of periods of good possession but we defended resolutely and stand in GK Grimesy kicked effectively. A great long pass from defence by the Skip found Emily who ran half the pitch shrugged off a few challenges and calmly slotted home...GREAT GOAL!!! From then on there was really only one winner however we couldn't find a last gasp goal. A fantastic effort by all sets us up for our last 2 key league games after easter...c'mon the 4s.

Report: Oh my, what a goal fest this week! the first push back resulted in a quick goal within the first two minutes of the game which started off the competition between Andrea, Michelle and Emily getting two each in the first half. not wishing to be left out, Laura scored her second goal in two matches. we certainly finished the half a tad happy. Second half started with another goal within the first minute this time from Andrea who was, at this point 'on a roll'. Michelle determined to buy a jug popped another one in shortly after. we got caught out though, having afternoon tea and the oppo scored one. however, we were awarded a short corner which was slammed into the goal by Andrea (it's the magic stick you know)who rounded the score line to 12-1 at the final whistle. Good passing and some cracking runs from mid field setting up the perfect goal situation. great team effort.

Report: A game full of frustration! We had the majority of possession and territory but could not make it count. Emily bravely stepped up to take a p-flick but the GK made a great save. In fact she was in great form and came to Mid Surrey's rescue a number of times. A conservative estimate of our short corner count would be 15, alas we still could not find that decisive goal.

As is often the case with these sorts of games Mid Surrey took their chance with a break coming from a Cheam misplaced pass. With Lexi left 2-on-1 Mid Surrey calmly slotted home. Calm is not how one would describe the celebrations...one would have thought they had won the World Cup... We continued to apply pressure to their goal with many a shot just creeping wide. Unfortunately when the final whistle blew we were left very disappointed.

However all is not lost we have 4 more games with all still to play for.

Report: Alas, fretful were we and not so fabulous this week. Gerry did a stunning job in goal but we let them through too often leaving the goalie stranded. Our one and only coming from Andrea and many short corners and shots on goal too. Has to be said that the oppo goalie played a corker making some cracking saves. As the second half progressed it became more noticeable that we had no subs this time, the oppo having two sets of fresh legs. A hard match with a not so good oppo umpire who made Craigy's job even harder, bruised players from a rough match. Tired and a bit disappointed we took solace in the bar......

Report: And folowing the oppo running away from us altogether last week, the fab fours came back to win yet another by a good margin. Not one of our best matches to watch this week but the goal hunger was most definitely in the blood. There were some superb passes and long balls despite the pitch resembling the Thames on a windy day (big ripples that is). On to the interesting bit - 10 minutes into the first half and a sharp pass in the D found it's way onto Candy' stick who promptly slammed into in to the backboard with a resounding thud. Half time gave us some welcome respite from what had been a bit of a tetchy first half and another 20 minutes into the second half the ball was passed perfectly to Quaylies stick who punched the ball firmly past a struggling goalie. Not to be outdone,and to keep her goal average up, (no pressure), Andrea popped a cheeky one over the top of a floored goalie to make ! it 3-0. At this point I think the goalie had passed out with sheer exhaustion or frustration! Battered, brusised but jubilant we return to the clubhouse for a beer or ten......

Report: A bit of a scruffy one on this occasion. Oppo seemed to have a couple of players who were totally aware of there rules, as for the rest, well enough said. 12 minutes in and the first scrambled goal was finished off by Andrea - not as satisfying as the previous week, eh safa? A missed penalty but the oppo goalie was pretty sharp and this was one of many saves throughout the match. Another 8 minutes passed and Lucy W finished the frenzy with goal no 2. End of first half and yours truly had at least two touches of the ball. we returned to the pitch with bruises and 10 minutes into the second half Andrea sunk another one into the net. the defence had another couple of touches of the ball by which time Ads and moi had got the deckchairs out (me bored in goal?)
Not our best match but 3 more points in the bag so we were happy with that - off to the club for a few beers.....

Report: And off to a fantastic start with four goals from the fabulous fours! From the off the whole team gave 110% with the first two goals coming early in the first half. There was some superb passing a a few spectacular runs down the wing. the first goal coming from Lucy W who made a perfectly timed run into the D tipping the ball nicely past the goalie. Several assaults later Emily picked the sweet spot to collect the ball from the goalies pads and put it into the goal. Half time the team was fully charged and hungry for more. The short corners seemed to come thick and fast with the final two goals coming through these. Andrea stopped both well delivered hit outs, from Lucy, perfectly and slammed them into the back of the goal - resounding thuds on the back boards added to the pleasure of being 4-0 up. We did oblige Kim with a few touches in our end just to make sure she didn't suffer loss o! f skill...

Report: And what a way to finish 2007!!

From the outset it was obvious that the team would need to give 110% which we did. Unfortunately, some quick passing in the D resulted in the oppo scoring their one and only goal of the match. Cheam upped the anti to 115% and we finished the first half 1-0 down but not downhearted.

Cheam came back in the second half looking like everyone had injected rocket fuel and half time. Some spectacular runs from excellent fast and accurate passing resulted in two goals, one from Candy and the other from Emily (who was running with two shots of rocket fuel). The third goal coming from Emily who tucked the ball in by a whisker and much to the dismay of the opposition.

Well done ladies - what a fabulous team effort, yet again the fantastic fours ride victorious into the sunset - or word to that effect.

Amusing comment from their goalie at half time "I've never played in goal before" - what a thing to tell moi at such a perfect time.

Report: this was a tough match but we knew it would be. the team gave 110% throughout and having conceded an earlyish goal equalised after numerous attempts to get it into the back of the net. Sarah T finishing off a barrage in the D. Safa let rip with a cracking shot only to have in rebound off the post (I personally think the goal was 50mm narrow). Others also having good shots which just would not go in the back of the net. There were some stunning breaks from Quaylie's hit outs with Lucy E and Emily making quick ground to drive the ball forward. Despite losing at the end of the game as a ball went behind the goalie who was on the ground, the oppo had the decency to say that it had been their toughest match and the most enjoyable. So heads up girls, a hard fought battle which should really have finsihed in a draw to reflect the play. Onward and ever upward ladies 4s!

Report: The match got off to a ferocious start with both sides wanting that first goal. Unfortunately a quick break on the part of Mid Surrey led to them scoring the first goal with yours truly on the floor and unable to stop it. As this was a bit of a 'grudge' match we didn't get mad but regrouped to come back even stronger in the second half by claiming two goals against them. Lucy W scoring twice by being in the right place at the right time to get the last touch, making sure it hit the back board. Nice one Lucy! A tough match with the possibility of being a few goals more up but nonetheless a win...
Comment from one of the oppo on leaving the pitch; "Well, we weren't so easy to beat this time were we?" To which the response was simply; "Perhaps not but we still won". Say no more!

Report: Very much a game of two halves! First half we were sublime and worthy of the 6-0 scoreline. The first goal came when the game was merely a few minutes old. Some slick interplay between Amy and Sarah down the right saw Amy pull a great cross back to Andrea; she did not disappoint and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. In what order the next goals came I cannot remember but a highlight was Amy's mazey run down the right, seeing her slot home without needing any help from anyone else! Her second came soon after. Andrea completed a first half hat-trick with a calmly stuck short corner after Lucy W's great feed. Not to be left out Lucy E continued her scoring form; stealing in at the back post leaving the GK no chance.

At half-time there was talk of making double figures. However BHE were playing for pride, had nothing to lose and we were not up to our extremely high standards of the first half. Yet Andrea managed to take her personal tally for the day to 4.

A good win lets just try and keep going for 70 minutes even if we have won the game after 35!

Report: and another 4-0 win! Seems to be our favourite at the moment. Despite this being a friendly the oppo were vertainly determined to try to beat us. However, before being injured (again) Andrea managed to pop one over the line and in her own word it was "a cheeky goal". I thought it just went over the line but there you go... We finished the first half just one goal up and a tad terse due to the amount of pushing on the pitch so up went our determination. off to a very quick start in the second half with a fantastic finish from Amy in her debut for the team. This followed by a couple of short corners with Candy getting the perfect touch on from a strike to make it 3-0. Not to be outshone, Amy sent another ball past their keeper bringing the final score to 4-0. There were lots of good runs throughout the game with the with the whole team giving top effort overall. Lovely stuff girls once again.

Report: Off to a flying start with a goal from Andrea in the opening few minutes.The team looked brilliant and well focused from the off. A searing shot from Alys thudded into the backboard to give us another followed by Andreas 'banana' shot which I'm sure swung round the goalie a couple of times before it actually went in. Not to be left out, Candy popped another one in for good measure and we finished the first half feeling quite chuffed. The second half saw us go for an early tea (mentally that is) as we got caught out giving BR a couple of very lucky breaks. That said, there was a plethera of attacks on the BR goal but their goalie seemed to have stepped up a couple of notches and wasn't letting anything pass. Nonetheless, another 3 points in the bag. Nice one girls:)

Report: And the fabulous feisty fours strike again! Early starts are really not the best for some of the team but despite this we soon got going. The built in organic sat-nav wasn't working too well at the start but once we switched to manual the onslaught commenced. Numerous strikes at the goal just wouldn't go in and their goalie was a very busy person. A high ball met Safa's eyeline and she did a brilliant 'I'll hit that before it hits me' stroke punching the ball firmly into the net. The second half saw the team out with real determination with a further goal from Safa, Candy, Emily and Lucy E (who, it has to be said must have scored the most laid back goal so far). Our sweeper underexercised and goalie very fed up because she didn't touch the ball even following a short corner - just the way we like it, eh girls?